Overview of catalysts and oxidants

Overview of catalysts and oxidants 4.1.1 Commercially employed catalyst materials and their availability 

In this section, the commercial applications involving framework metal-containing zeotype catalysts are summarized. Notwithstanding the intriguing properties, only a limited number of framework metal-containing zeotype materials, among them TS-1, Ga-MFI, and some mesoporous catalysts, are currendy used for commercial applications. Framework metal-containing catalysts are no different than other catalysts in that the activity, stability, lifetime, manufacturability, and catalyst cost must meet certain requirements for a new catalytic process to be implemented. 

TS-1 as a new commercial catalyst of ENI company was reported by Perego et al. (218) Polimeri Europa s Web site (operated by ENI) (114) gives more details, from the properties of TS-1 to its applications. The catalyst capacity that is being newly installed amounts to more than 100 t/yr. The commercial products come in the form of extrudates for use in fixed-bed reactors or as microspheres for use in slurry reactors. The average bulk density of the extrudates is 650 kg/m, and that of the microspheres is 600 kg/m.  

Other manufacturers offering TS-1 for sale include PQ, which is offering its PQ-TS-1, and CleanScience PUNE, India (252). Both companies manufacture TS-1 in the form of extrudates and microspheres. The listed process apphcations are aromatic hydroxylation, oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes, olefin epoxidation, and alkane oxidations. Presumably, there are more companies, especially in China, producing framework metal-containing zeotype materials. 

Large pore materials, hydrophobic framework metal-containing zeotype materials, hybrid materials, and materials with unique Lewis acidity are in the current pipeline for commercialization. Some new developments that are close to commercialization will be also be reviewed. 

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